Drink-driver broke his neck

Collision when five times over limit

A dangerous driver, who was five times over the limit, spent three weeks in a spinal injuries unit after a collision near Aberfoyle.

Ross Owens car had ended up on its roof after it swerved and hit Lynne Huckerby’s car near Braeval on the A81 Glasgow to Callander Road on December 21 last year.

The 34-year-old had last month admitted a charge under the Road Traffic Act 1988 at Stirling Sheriff Court.

Fiscal depute Ashley Smith told the court on Wednesday Owens had gone to the home of an acquaintance the previous day where he had consumed a large amount of alcohol. He left the home at 6.50am that day.

Ms Smith said a witness was driving in Aberfoyle Main Street about 7am that day when a car pulled out in front of him, narrowly avoiding a collision.

He then observed the car being driven on the A81 in the direction of Port of Menteith swerving across the road and contacted the police.

Ms Huckerby was driving west on the A81 at the same time in the direction of Aberfoyle. As Owens’ car approached it veered into a verge and collided with the front of Ms Huckerby’s car, injuring her. Owens’ car ended up on its roof following the collision.

A short time later, the witness, who had been alarmed at Owens’ driving, came across the scene of the incident.

Owens was on the driver’s side of the car being treated and admitted to police he had been driving the car.

A test carried out showed that Owens had 121mg of alcohol per 100ml of breath. The limit being 22mg.

His lawyer, Michael O’Neill, told Sheriff Christopher Shead that Owens accepted full responsibility for his conduct and had expressed “considerable remorse”.

Owens had spent three weeks in the spinal injuries unit of Queen Elizabeth Hospital in Glasgow with a broken neck and fractured collar bone. When he was discharged he was unable to work for six months and still receives treatment for the injuries. He has since returned to work.

The solicitor also pointed out that the car Owens had been driving had been written off and he still has to pay off £4000 in outstanding finance for the vehicle. There was another matter before the courts which Owens was due to be sentenced for later this month as well as “a serious conviction” from 2010.

Sheriff Shead sentenced Owens, of Glasgow, to a community payback order comprising 180 hours’ unpaid work within six months. He also disqualified him from driving for 18 months.